Tuesday, December 13, 2011

For My Dad...


Oh my Dad. He's the best. None other. Love him to Death. No one could ever replace Him.

So, here is my journal to my Dad before my Wedding...

Favorite Memories of Us Together...

Playing softball and you catching all one million of the pitches I ever threw. Hands down, my softball memories are some of the best memories of my life so far. We had so much fun together, we got really mad at each other, but through it all you were still my number one fan, even if it did not feel that way sometimes. :) It was some of the best years of my life so far, and I have you to thank for pushing me and helping me be the softball player that I was. Still trying to lay off the high ones, and trying not to forget Stillwell's toys for the World Series. :)

I hope you are proud of me for...

My softball accomplishments, being a Nurse, being a teacher, going to graduate school, and being who I am today.

I'm proud to have you as my Father because...

I could not imagine having any other Dad. You were and are the best. My tire is flat, you know how to fix it. My wiper blades need to be replaced, you know where to go. My house needs to be painted, you want to help me paint it. You have always, always, always been there for me no matter what, you are kind and compassionate, and I love you so much that I can't even put it into words.

What you've taught me about life...

"The hard is what makes it great, if it were easy, anyone would do it." You've always pushed me to be better at what I do whether it be in school or on the ball field or as a nurse. Some things are more painful than others, but you always made sure I came through. You believed in me, and in doing that, I have learned to believe in myself.

My Hopes and Dreams I would like to share with you...

I hope to always live close to you, because I love being near my family, you mean the world to me. I hope to graduate from graduate school and become a Nurse Practitioner, and if you're lucky I'll pursue my doctorate :) I hope to have lots of children who are healthy and happy that you can spoil rotten. I hope that Dave and I can build a life and family that you are proud of.

How you've prepared me for marriage...

 You may have a quiet demeanor at times, but you are selfless, loving, caring, and kind. I hope to be like you in my own marriage.

What I would like you to know about my relationship with my new spouse...

Dave is a very kind and gentle man. I love him, and know he will always support me in what I do, and cares about me more than anything. He is smart and intelligent, and will be the one to teach our kids about Math and Science (I'll just be there as an additive :)) I'll teach them reading and spelling! He loves to try new things and to travel, and I'm excited to be able to share a life with him.

What I want to say to you a few days before the wedding...

You are the best. I will always be your favoritist and only little girl. I love you to the moon and back. I can not thank you enough for being the best Dad in the entire world. Seriously. No one tops you. Love you.



For My Mom...


Goodmorning,

As most of you know, I am getting married in just a few days!

I really wanted to take the time to enjoy these days before the big event, and found some journaling questions I wanted to do...so, this one, is for my mom.

My Favorite Memories of Us Together...

This one is hard to pick, because we've done a lot of stuff together. But, if I had to pick, I would say the vacations we took to Colorado when you were always there to take a hot chocolate break with me, after the second ski run of the day (we know Dad doesn't fall for that). I also love running errands with you, or having morning coffee with you, or just being with you. Then, there is always when the boys left for Canada, and we cleaned the kitchen, and didn't go back into it until Dad and the boys came home. Basically, all the times we're having fun together are my favorite memories.

I hope you are proud of me for...

Going to Nursing School, and graduating, even though it was not easy. For being an Oncology nurse for three years. For deciding to go back to Graduate school even if it may take me longer than others. For the person I have become, I hope you are proud.

I'm proud to have you as my Mother because...

You're the best. Even when we don't see eye to eye, I still love you. You are fun, loving, caring, and the best Mom I could have asked for. You are one phone call away, and you usually answer by the third ring. You have been there for me throughout lifes events, and I value your presence as a Mom in my life.

What you've taught me about life....

"If it's going to be, it's up to me." I had to throw that quote in there because how many times did we hear that growing up? But, it's true. You've taught me hard work and discipline and it has paid off. You've taught me how to be a good Mom, and what it means to be there for someone.

My hopes and dreams I would like to share with you...

I hope to graduate with my Masters in Science in the area of an Adult Nurse Practitioner, and practice in either a Primary Care Setting, or maybe an Oncology or Hospice setting. I hope to have healthy and happy children, and raise them with the same values you have raised me. I hope that Dave and I can be models of love to everyone around us. 

How you've prepared me for marriage...

I know that not every day will be perfect, but I also know that if two people are willing to work it out, that it will work out. You have taught me it takes two to put forth effort in a marriage, and we plan on giving it our all. You've taught me how to love and how to be loved.

What I would like you to know about my relationship with Dave....

He is a man of integrity, and chooses to be genuine and authentic. I love him dearly, and even if we have an argument or disagreement, I know he ultimately wants us to agree or come to a compromise, and we always do. He is caring, kind, and compassionate. He helps and supports my dreams and ideas about life. We talk about everything, and we know marriage won't be easy, but we are excited to share our lives together and to build a life together through the good days and the bad.

With a few days before the Wedding, I want to say to you...

Thank you for everything you have done for me. From raising me, to this wedding, you have been the best. I love you very much, and am very grateful for all of the good and bad times we've had, and hope we have many  more to come. I love you very much, and thank you for everything you've done. I don't know what else to say besides I love you and Thank you. You're the best Mom, ever.



Saturday, November 5, 2011

Bath Salts

So, my future mother-in-law's birthday is coming up, and since I've been all sorts of crafty lately, I thought for her birthday Dave and I could give her some homemade bath salts!

They were super easy to make, and I don't know any woman who doesn't enjoy a warm bath, good book, and I would call the bath salts an added bonus.



Want to make your own bath salts?

2 cups Epsom Salt, 1 cup Baking Soda, & 5-7 drops of essential oil (you pick the flavor)! Add it all together, and store it in an air-tight container.

A side note..I found the essential oil at Whole Foods, and I used Lavendar!

Happy Bath time & Happy Birthday to my future mother-in-law :)

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Anthropologie Bobby Pins Re-Do

So...

I have a new found love, Pinterest, and today I decided to search for DIY Bobby Pins. I was feeling in a crafty mood.

And, I found the cutest, pretty easy, DIY, knock-off Anthropologie Bobby Pins.

So, off to the store I was. First, to Target to make pumpkin pie bars, the recipe for those is here: pumpkin pie bars. I'm pretty sure only half the pan is left, and they just finished baking at 4:45 p.m.

Then, to Michael's to gather my supplies for the DIY Bobby Pins! After the pumpkin pie bars were done, I started on these bobby pins, and walllahhh here they are:


I love them! You could make them all different colors, or whatever you really want, I chose red for the upcoming Christmas season :)

If you want the tutorial of how to make these, it can be found here: http://www.henryhappened.com/diy-anthropologie-ribbon-bobby-pins.html


Monday, October 31, 2011

Ghost Busters!

Hi Everyone & Happy Halloween!!!

I don't have any pictures to share (sorry), but have had a fun Halloween day.

My mom and I went to a spinning class this morning at my favorite gym ,Aspen Athlethic Club, and the whole workout was centered around Halloween themed songs, a blast. Some examples were: Ghost Busters, Thriller, Superstitious, etc. It was a riot. Especially when the teacher came dressed as an 80's gym rat. :)

And, as for the evening? Dave and I are passing out candy at our humble little abode, with pumpkins &  gourds lining the doorstep.

On the halloween menu at the Lupo household for Trick-or-Treaters includes: Nerds, Bottle Caps, Kit-Kats, Laffy Taffy, and Sweet tarts.

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Living Large.

Let me define living large for you: I moved back home. Enough said, I think.

Mom cooks dinner, Dad makes coffee every morning, Mom does my laundry even when I tell her repeatedly I prefer to do my own, Mom Vaccuums, Dad is always excited to see me, I think you get the point.

So anyways, I moved back home in August when my lease at my apartment was up. One last go around with the rents' before the big W (wedding, for those of you who are not informed). Oh, it has been a joy. And, sometimes quite the contrary, but I think we're having fun, or at least I am. I won't speak for the rest.

Other General Updates:

  • I picked up a PRN Hospice Nursing Job, and really enjoy it. I know, you all think I'm crazy, but as the chaplain said today, "There is more joy in developing a relationship with someone than there is sorrow when someone passes away. That's why people keep coming back to it." Well put, sir. I agree.
  • The Wedding Invitations are sent. I love them. They are adorable. I also love rushing to the mailbox everyday to see who sent their RSVP.
  • Also, we taste tested the food yesterday at Embassy Suites, and if you are in any way doubting whether you want chicken or salmon, the salmon was delicious!
  • I made a t-shirt quilt this past weekend with my great aunts, second cousins, and my momma bear. It was such a joy to be able to talk with my great aunts, listen to their stories, and finish that t-shirt quilt. After all, the squares for the t-shirt quilt had been cut and lying in a bag for almost a year now...
  • Also, special shout out to my mother bear for helping me with the T-Shirt Quilt, definitely could not have done that by myself.
  • I am leaving tomorrow to go to Colorado with my mom and all of her friends from KC. I plan on finding out if they were the "cool" mom group from school.
  • I am teaching two days a week for Creighton's Undergraduate Nursing Students. It is a real joy to be apart of their learning. At the same time, it can be quite chaotic, and overwhelming. But, I'm enjoying it so far.
  • Dave and I took engagment pictures, one set was done by his sister-in-law Samantha, you can check her out at lupophotography.blogspot.com/. And, the other set was done by our photogapher for our wedding,Lane, and you can find him at http://laneweddings.com/. Both were fabulous.
  • Oh, also, a few weekends ago my Dad, Dave, and me painted his entire kitchen, living room, and dining room. I also made curtains for each room with the sewing machine, respectively. I think I have more of my grandma in me than I thought.
  • Lastly, make sure you notice my shoes at the wedding, they are my Grandmother's wedding shoes who passed away last January. She would be thrilled to know she gets to be part of the wedding!

I think that should have been more than enough for you to read about tonight, so with that, I shall say, goodnight.




Saturday, August 13, 2011

Update from the Mountains

Hi Friends, Family, and Faithful Readers!

I'm sitting with my feet up on the coffee table, cold drink in my hand, and a mountain view out the window as my future hubby insists that I work on my blog and photos while he prepares us a delicious dinner--chicken parmesan with pasta!

Well, yesterday, we took a hike to Boulder Lake. Here is one of my favorite pictures I took of the hike.



And, some more pretty pictures of the hike...


A few of Dave and me...




And, what else can I tell you? We went out to a delicious Mexican Dinner last night at an authentic Mexican Restaurant called, Hacienda Real. Then, snuggled in for movie night.

Today, we hiked Lily Pad Lake, which was fun. It's right down the street from the house so no driving to trailheads. Here's a picture at the top of the lake..check out all of those Lily Pads!



And, let's see after the hike we tried to go Kayaking, but all of the kayaks were booked, so we settled for the swimming pool. Well, I think it's time for dinner.

Hope everyone has a good night!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Bright, Sun-Shiney, Day!

Greetings from Colorado!

Dave and I got into my parent's house late last night, and pretty much crashed.

It is the first time we've been able to come out, and actually see the house! It is soooo beautiful, I L-O-V-E it! Many vacations will be spent here, I can already tell!

We started off the day with hottubbing and coffee (water for Dave).  Next up was a quick trip to the grocery store to stock up for the week. Then we made our way to Lake Dillon, rented some bikes, and rode around the lake. It was a beautiful day, mid 70's, slight breeze!

After the bikeride, we came home, and took a quick stroll around the outlets. Dave found a few shirts for work, a few shirts for play, and a few nice, casual shirts. I actually didn't spend a dime...yet! There is a Coach bag I am eyeing :)

We came home, and used our new cookbook, entitled, "America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook." We chose a baked cod recipe, which you can see in the pictures below, it was delicious! I was going to make it, but chickened out when it came to getting my hands dirty with the raw fish, so I chose to make the "breading," part of it. We added some steamed brussel sprouts, and fresh grapes. Delectable!

The pictures below are of the new vacation house, the bike ride, and the cooking festivities! Now, we're relaxing watching a movie, and maybe a walk later.

Hope everyone at home is enjoying a beautiful night.




Wednesday, July 27, 2011

School, School, School!

Hi Friends!

Well, I decided to take a few pictures today after class to show you a few books I've been reading, a few binders I've been filling, and a few notecards I've been making. Oh, and there's my calendar, I love crossing each day off!



A few more weeks of studying, then a little, much needed, break comes my way!


Sunday, July 24, 2011

A Little Inspiration...

With 2.5 weeks left of school, and a few deadlines and pressures to meet, I have resided to watching this inspirational clip from Rocky:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uASVzkrEKgs&feature=related

Also, Al Pacino's inspirational speech from Any Given Sunday, is amazing. Some language. But, really good!



Sunday, June 12, 2011

For my Uncle Jerry

We got news last Sunday that my Uncle Jerry had collapsed while making dinner and they had taken him to the hospital. I thought he would be ok. I got a phone call just a few minutes after I had got the first phone call, and my dad told me that my Uncle Jerry did not make it. My heart breaks for his family, for my mom, for her brothers and sisters, and everyone who knew him.

My Uncle Jerry was a good man. He was kind, gentle, and soft-spoken. He was quick to lend a hand, and he had a heart filled with love. We will think about you often, Uncle Jerry, and until we meet again, we will carry you in our hearts forever.

Tonight, I'm grateful for love that breaks our hearts, lifts us up, and carries us through the good times, the hard times, and everything inbetween. Miss you already, Uncle Jerry.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

We're going to the Chapel and We're Gonna Get Maaaaarried!

Hi Friends and Family!

I am so excited to announce to you that Dave and I got engaged this past weekend! It was perfect, and we are soooooo excited!

Now, for a re-run of the days events according to Molly...

Well, it all started out one day when I was at work and Dave had emailed me and asked for my schedule for the next week. Note to self: Dave never asks my schedule unless he is trying to plan something, and he usually immediately follows up with something like, "Oh, well since your off this day, maybe we could go do x, y, z. Never heard back from him. I immediately become suspicious, but attempted to play it cool.

Fast forward to the next week and I make this gourmet (ok not really gourmet) but delicious spaghetti dinner for Dave for after he gets off work. We are finishing eating dinner and he says to me, "So, do we have plans on Sunday?" I say, "No, why?" The immediate suspicious piece pops up again in me. He responds very chill like, and says, "Oh, well I am planning a daytrip for us, but I really want it to be a surprise, so I'm not going to tell you anything about it." We are on like red alert by now, super suspicious of the "surprise daytrip," and getting a little bit (ok a lot of bit) excited! Also, let's not pretend that I didn't try to pry some details out. For example, I framed my questions very strategically and said something like, "Well, I should probably know what I should wear." He very quickly responded, "Yeah, I'll tell you right before you need to know." He was tough, I got nothing. Dave is patient. I am not. I'm working on it.

Sunday May 22, 2011 rolls around. We embark on this "daytrip." First stop was Lisa's Radial Cafe for a little breakfast. Of course I was basically crawling out of my skin at this point so I could barely eat let alone choke down my coffee! :)

This is where Dave informed of what my attire should be: Hiking clothes. Now, where in the heck are we going in Nebraska that I need hiking clothes? But, I trust, and attempt to play it cool (note: I did not play it cool very well). I change into my hiking clothes and head back over to Dave's house. He has packed a picnic, blanket, and a backpack. I thought about rummaging through the backpack, but kept my cool by not.

With puppy by our sides, we are off. But, to where? I have no idea. But, Dave is completely cool and calm about the whole thing. In fact, you would have thought it was just another day for him. I, on the other hand, am still crawling out of my skin so excited for the possibility! So, we're driving, and driving some more, and at some point I'm wondering if maybe he's leaving me for dead because there is not much around. But, he assured me that was hardly his plan. So, keep driving, and pretty soon signs for Nebraska City start popping up. There is an end in sight!

He pulls up to the Arbor State Park in Nebraska City. Really beautiful day. Blue sky, sunshine, pretty trees and landscaping. I am so excited at this point. Watching his every move. Like a hawk. :) We take the puppy on a walk around the park, we go look at the old historic spots. Really sweet.

At this point, I'm getting hungry. We all know that I love to eat. Good thing he packed a picnic. Also, there just happens to be this sweet little gazebo at the park, so we decide to park ourselves there. So, we bust out the picnic which consisted of turkey and cheese sandwiches, fruit snacks, strawberries, grapes, and water. We are enjoying our lunch, just chatting away. And, then we finish lunch. I say, "What's next?!" He says, "Hold on." I'm dying at this point. So excited. He's rummaging through his backpack, he comes back with the ring box, he gets down on one knee, and says, "There's a question that I've been wanting to ask you. Will you marry me?" My heart is pounding, I cry a little bit, I scream, "YES!" We hug. We kiss. We're so excited! We're going to the chapel and we're gonna get married! Ah, I can't wait!!! So, that's our sweet little story from my view.

Maybe Dave will do a guest blog and tell you all about the previous events, like asking my parents for permission :) But, for now we are so happy and so excited!









Sunday, May 15, 2011

How to Survive Grad School

Hi Faithful Readers,

It has been TOO long! Part of the reason why it has been too long is because this past semester I started my practicum part of grad school, and with that comes completing practicum hours.  I spent 75 hours with a family practice physician, in addition to holding down my full-time job at Bergan.

So, onto the title of the blog post.."How to Survive Grad School." I have a few tips for any of you who might be considering tackling grad school and maintaining your full time job.

1. Work Less. Figure out how few hours you can work while still being able to pay bills, keep your benefits,  be able to eat, and have a little fun.  For me, this meant cutting down from 36 hours to 32 hours. Just a 4 hour difference, but those 8 hour days make a HUGE difference. Work until 3:30 pm, and you still have a majority of the day left to get any errands run, homework done, or maybe slip in a  nap!

2. Get a massage. Find a Massage Therapist and treat yourself once a month to a relaxing one hour. I'm pretty sure it's good for your body, soul, and mind. When I got my tax return, I went to my massage therapist, Tree, who makes me fall asleep drooling, and asked her if I paid for 12 massages up front (1 for every month of the year), if she would give me a deal. And, she did. It is so relaxing, and a much needed break from the rush of school.

(Here is a link to Tree's website if you are interested: Dundee Massage ).

3. Invest in a Vera Bradley Planner. These planners are a bit large, but so helpful when you have to coordinate school, work, friends, dinners, events, birthdays, and the list goes on and on. They are also pretty adorable. I do have one suggestion that I got from Dave's Godmother, Connie, whic was to pick one color and use that for work, pick another color and used that for school, etc. It helps to color code things, makes things more clearer in my mind at least! 

(Here is a link to the A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E Vera Bradley Planner: Vera Bradley Planner ).

4. Hit the Gym. If I had a big test in undergrad, I would stress myself out so much that I would tell myself I would not have any time for anything but studying. I probably spent more time procrastinating just by telling myself that, and I definitely wouldn't have been able to make the gym a priority that week. Even with the busy schedule I had with school, clinic, and work this past semester though, I would look at the gym schedule for the classes (I love the classes), and I would find one that worked, pack my gym clothes the night before, and just throw it into the pile of bags that I took out the door with me. Worked like a charm.

5. Add supportive people to your life. This semester was trying and so, so busy that sometimes I got a bit overwhelmed. So, thank you to my love, Dave, for all the dinners you have cooked, quizzing me over my flashcards, the "good luck on your test" text messages,  the gas tanks you've filled, and the hugs at the end of the day when it seemed like I would never make it to May 4th. Thank you to my family for having us out to dinner, and to my mom for having breakfast with me sometimes before clinic! Thank you to my rooms, Ames, who did my laundry for me one week! Thank you to Connie who went and got me groceries when I pulled my back out. Thank you to my bestie, Gwenn, who makes the best breakfast, coffee, and provides the best girlfriend chats! I'm sure there is more, but know that I truly am grateful for the support throughout grad school, and I love you all!




Sunday, February 20, 2011

Love List

I know, I know, two posts in one day? A bit excessive? Perhaps. But, I'm going to do it.

1. The Huffington Post.

I love it. I used to h-a-t-e U.S. Government AP. I don't even know how I got a good grade, but I'm pretty sure I did. I thought it was boring. Not exciting. And, I dreaded going to the class (Sorry, Mr. Spungen). I have tried to keep myself informed of what has been going on in the news, but I always find news websites to be quite boring. Until, I met this one. In my humble opinion, Huffington Post has just the right amount of pictures, gossip, news stories, and everything else inbetween to keep my attention, and more importantly, keep me informed. So, that's that.

2. Vera Bradley.

Enough said. I love the paisely design. I'm a sucker for it. After Christmas, I went and found myself a cute Vera Bradley Planner (Note: I think this is when the obsession began). Then, Dave got me a nice Vera Bradley wallet for my birthday (Love it). And, then Kirstin must have just known that I loved it, because she surprised me and got me a hot pink Vera Bradley makeup bag (super adorable) for my birthday! Thank you!

3. Love Maps.

Dave and I have decided to do these every year on each of our birthdays. It's about 50 questions, all about the other person. I found it in a book by Dr. John Gottman, and we really enjoyed doing it. Then, we plan to keep our "old" love maps, to compare them year to year to see how we've changed and grown! So sweet. I love it.





Birthday Post

 I turned 25. It seemed a bit overwhelming the day of, but rest assured, I do not feel a day over 22. I had such a wonderful birthday this year, and as many of you know my birthday falls on Valentine's Day. I made this clear from the beginning to Dave, they are indeed two separate holidays (I think my Mom taught me that one, thanks mom)! So, without further ado, the birthday events went something like this...

Friday February 11: Wake up. Drink Coffee. Eat Breakfast. Go to work. Work, Work, Work. Oh, wait, there are flowers at the desk for ME?!?! Yay! I go to the desk to pick up a beautiful arrangement of flowers, and a sweet card, that says "Happy Birthday, Molly. Love, Dave." Go back to Work, Work, look at flowers, Work, smell flowers, Work, love flowers, work. Go Home.

Saturday February 12: Repeat same process as Friday. Meanander along at work (Saturday's are usually much slower than Friday's). Wait...flowers, again?! Did my Dad send them? One of my brother's? A secret admirer? Nope, Dave sent me a second set. This time, a dozen red roses, with a card that said, "Happy Valentine's Day. Love, Dave." So sweet.

Sunday February 13: Family Brunch! Mom never shys from putting on a good brunch, especially for a birthday. We had cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, starbucks coffee, and her infamous egg dish. Followed with present opening..some good new books, candles, cookies, truffles, a dozen pink roses (delivered from Derrick, sent from Jacob, Thanks Bubba), and an Applebees giftcard! Another successful Day!

Monday February 14: Sleep in. Call Mom. Have breakfast/coffee with her, go shopping, get some new gym shorts/shirts with her giftcard she gave me! Oh yeah..pick up Valentine's Day cards for our men (we can't forget them)! Lunch downtown with Dave and Jim at Upstream. Dinner at Alpine Inn in Poncha Hills with friends, followed with Zesto's Ice Cream :)

Saturday February 19: An a-m-a-z-i-n-g birthday party! We went to Liv Lounge in Aksarben after I got off work. Dave had reserved a section for our party by the fireplace, and we had such a wonderful time! Thank you for all who came out, I love all of you :)



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Death is Beautiful

I know what you're thinking: why would anyone call death beautiful? Who could? Let me tell you why, from my perspective, the process of death actually does have some endearing aspects.
You see, I am an oncology nurse. And, yes, I picked to work in this field. And truth be told, I love it. Sure, there are a fair amount of naysayers. It’s not rare for me to hear the question, "Why would you ever want to watch people die?" But it just goes in one ear and out the other. We nurses get to know these patients through their first diagnosis, to remission, to relapsing, to cures, to death, to life, and to everything in between. They become like family to us. They become my dad, my grandpa, my mom, brother, sister, aunt, or uncle; whatever the case, each patient holds a place in my heart.
I write this tonight after a 12-hour shift at the hospital. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't easy to get up this morning before the sun was even shining.  Getting off after the sun goes down doesn’t make it any easier. Sometimes, I do feel burnt out. And, sometimes I feel like these patients, our family, are what carry us through our days and keep us coming back.
Back to my title...Death is Beautiful. While most of my days are not filled with death looming, today was. As I said earlier, we get to know our patients, they become like family, and it feels like we've lost a family member when they pass. But, something about the whole process, when taken in the right perspective, can be downright uplifting.
It's beautiful when a family gathers for a loved one. It's beautiful when the love for a loved one is palpable in a room full of family members and friends. It’s a testament to the better part of the human spirit to see a group of people coming together in a time of need. It is beautiful to watch a daughter hold her father's hand in his last moments and tell him she loves him. It's beautiful to hear a wife, whose husband is actively dying, say tenderly, "just keep him comfortable," knowing the final outcome is inevitable. The tears are beautiful. The basic, raw emotions that make us who we are, yet are sparingly put on display, are beautiful. It is so beautiful to see so much love.
But, why are these actions so beautiful? Why in these actions do I somehow find comfort? In my humble opinion, I find comfort in them because all we have is each other.  Each other is what gets us through most days, and it’s each other who shows up at the end of one’s life to show our love and respect. It’s bittersweet, obviously, but seeing a person or a family come to grips with our shared final destination is a privilege for me. It’s not easy to let people in—it can be awkward, painful, and scary. I get to be a part of one of the most intimate family moments.  I get to see the universal yearning for unity and solace amidst chaos and despair.  And, in all of the chaos and despair—there is peace and comfort there, too. It’s in the squeeze of a hand, the tear rolling down a cheek, and the hugs you get from strangers.
I finish this day not with a happy feeling, but with a most grateful feeling for life. A feeling that makes it okay, because there is so much love to be shared.  And, that's something I can live with.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

A snowy, puppy day.


When I woke up today, I had an agenda. It went a little something like this: wake up, take the dog out, eat breakfast, take shower, do chemotherapy re-certification course, study, study, study, feed the dog, take the dog out, try to stay inside where it is nice and warm, study some more for the two tests I have tomorrow, stay warm,

However, around 3:00 pm today, I got some news that changed the whole days agenda--for the better! Class is cancelled for tomorrow, the tests that were scheduled will be online. Yippeee!

I've been wanting to use my new camera some more, so I ventured outside (note: agenda changes when school is sort of cancelled), took the dog with me, and snapped a few pictures.

I'm aware they are not the most beautiful pictures you have ever seen, but hey a girl has got to start somewhere.

This one is my favorite. Despite the fact that I don't love the snow, it is nothing short of adorable when it is all over his little puppy dog face :)

This photo needs improvement, but I still love my subject!

Lastly, this is Kansas's favorite spot in the whole wide world. My heated mattress pad, grandma quilted, feather-topped, big fuzzy blanket bed. He has a choice of watching out the window all day and dreaming about the squirrels he can chase, to napping, to watching his momma do some homework.


I wish for all of you that you out there that you are staying safe, warm, by the fireplace, with a cup of something hot in your hand.

 


Friday, January 28, 2011

Apple Pie Oatmeal

Hello my few and faithful readers,

For the past few weeks, I've been having oatmeal for breakfast. I usually throw a little fruit in it, or maybe some nuts, but today with a little extra time on my hands I decided to spruce it up a bit.

So, I headed into the kitchen this morning, and surveyed my counter. A few apples left from the 24 that you get from Costco in one shopping experience. So, I decided my oatmeal was going to have apples in it. Then, I thought, it should probably also have some cinnamon and sugar in it. So, with no further ado, here is my recipe for Apple Pie Oatmeal:

Apple Pie Oatmeal

1 1/2 cups of Water
3/4 cups oats
1 apple, finely chopped
A sprinkle of cinnamon
A sprinkle of sugar

Directions: Bring water to a boil, add in your oats, stir until cooked completely. Meanwhile, chop the apple into fine pieces, and sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar on your apples in separate bowl. Mix all the cinnamon and sugar together on the apples. When oatmeal is done, mix the apple mixture into a bowl. Enjoy!

Do any of you have any fun ways to spruce up your oatmeal?

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my blog! I am about to head off to work, so I am going to make this short and sweet.

I've started this blog so I can keep some sort of journal for when I want to go back and look at what was going on. I also did it so friends and family that are far away can see what I'm up to over here in Omaha!

So, if you happened to stumble upon my page, or you got the invite, or you are family so you are forced to view and comment on my blog, I say to you Welcome!